New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-13
PRICE THREE CENTS.
TRACKING TWO MURDERERs.
THE NEw.HAvEN MYSTERY SOLVED
MRS. ERNST KILLED BY TWO MEN WHO GOT o. L,
$45--oNE or THEM coNFEssEs


$45-oNE or THEM CoNFEssEs.
The people Of New-Haven were startled on i es-
day morning at learning that Margaret Ernst, an
| old woman supposed to be wealthy. living in q
little store ct No. 81 Spruce-st, had been murdered
IN the night The appearance of her room indicated
that tho motive was robbery. She had been gagged
and killed with chloroform. The murderers had
carefully covered their tracks. The local police
authorities formed countless theories. but IL is not
unlikely tina. the murderers would never havebeen
discovered IL the work had been left to the Connec
ticut detectives. While they were still wandering
among perplexing theories the New-York police
pounced upon the murderers, who are prisoners at
Police Headquarters. There are two of them, and
they were arrested by detectives belonging to In
spector ByInes's staff The case against them is
complete, Mr.. Byrnes says.
James T. Taylor is stylish young man aud has
kept gn-mil at No. 305 West Twefth-st. for
about two years. He is known to be thief, though
he has never been arrested and his place is one OF
those resorts for thieves that permitted bv the
police to exist for the good they IN keeping
thieves in groups where they can be under scrutiny
Taylors move ements have long been watched. but
he has been found to be in the line of diposiDg Of
stolen goods rather than in stealing About two
weeks ago fashonable-ooking stranger came to
this city, who almost daily spent several hours in
thieves to any extent His arrival was brought to
the notice of Inspector Byrnes, who set Detective
Quackenbush, of the Ninth Precinct, to watch the
man.
1t was found that he went by the name of Frank
Clark and came from New-Haven, his real name r
bein g Henry b. Chamberlain. His speciality was
pocket-picki ng and sneak-thleving. After Cham
berlan had been here long enough to arrange soma
thieving scheme Mr. Byrnes sent Detectives Crow
ley and Mcknight, of his staff, 10 keep watch on
all his movements Chamberlain visited a woman
in Sixth-ave He had known her about seven
months and went to see her at in tervals of week
On Monday Taylor and Chamberlain drove
through Central Park and up the Boulevard and
got back about o'clock. They appeared to be in
hurry and in about an hour they were driven to
tbe Grand Central Station. Crowley and Mcknight
were close behind them and saw that the tickets
they bought were for New-Haven. The detectives
did not go with them, but close watch was kept
on TayloPs bar-room, where both Taylor aud
Chamberlain appeared early on Tuesday morning.
They seemed to have plenty of money which they
spent freely. In the afternoon they took long
drive in cab and came back intoxicated.
On Tuesday evening Inspector Byrnes first teard
of the murder of Mrs Ernst. When il was reported
to him that Chamberlain and Taylor had gone TO
New-lTaven the night before, he thought that per.
haps they were the murdeTers although neither OF
them had been used to working with chlorotorm or
taking desperate chances for money: Detectives
COsgTOve and Mclaughlin were added TO the tnfeo
detectives already on the case. Another detective
who had become acquainted with Cora Bell the
Young woman whom Chamberlain visited was
sent. to find out what he could IRON ner.
Chamberlain had never been confidential with her;
but last sa urday, contrary To his custom ne toa
her that he was going away for few days ana
when he came back he would have plenty OF money.
She asked him where he was going, and ne told ner
| to New-Haven, where there was an old woman who
had q large amount OF money. This convinced Ar.
Bgmes that he was on the right track.
On Wednesday morning the inspector sent one OF
the regular officers OF the Ninth Precinct 70 tel
Taylor that the Excise Commissioners wanted 10
see him TaylOr was not at all suspicious and soon
/ started for the Excise Office. lie was alone aud
as soon as he got ont of tae neghbor ood where ns
was known he was arrested by Detectives Nc
Laughlin aud McNOught, and taken TO POllce lead
| quar-ers. He was not told of the charge AGAINST
him, but was put INTO a cell; while TWO detectives
sat az the door and watched hun closely IN ordef
| that the bartender might not beco nc susp ;lous
because of Taylor's absence. letter was sens ta
the barrOOm stating that Taylor had gone OUT OF
the city on business and would be BACK III a ie"
days.
Detectives Cosgrove and MCGUIRE were ont look
ing for Chamberlain 1t was feared that ne sns.
pected what going on, as he could not be FOUND
at any OF his haunts ana had got out OF tne aetec1
tves' sight IL was learned that Chamberlain and
BOwery near FOurth-st lie Is a place whch thieves
frequent There the two detectives to1nd another
of Byrnes's men, who gave them an exceedingly IN
tercstIng fact He was enjoying quiet nap IN the
place early Tuesday morning when CnamOeflaih
and IavlOr came in and had a whispered c1nVersa-
ton. rhe detective heard them mention the New
Haven tram, woman by the name oil trust OK
something that sounded like 1t, and something
about an allbl . - -.
day Chamberlain came INTO the place. lie l0oked
pale and careworn, and his hand trembed vio-
lently when he took drink. just as the whistles
were blowing for l o'clock he came out OF the par
room alone walking quickly. After he had gone
block Cosgrove caught HIM by the arm and tod
him that lie was under arrest. Qnck rs iisn no
apffH Hrapg n II
pocket, and raised 1t TO Cosgrove's heart. but ne
was not quite quick enough. Cosgrove pressed nun
close got out his billy" aud Chamberlain was
stretched unconscious on the street WITH well-ul,
rected blow. Many of ChamberIain's friends pressed
arc und and threats were made against the hetec-
tIves but the appearance OF several poicehleu
broke up the crowd and Chamberlain was taken
to headquarters, and locked in cell in another
part of the building from Iaylors.
Then the operation that open peoples mouths.
no matter how tight they may be closed, was Degun
by Inspector Byrnes Ill that updergIoun9 h n
The pressure strong that one Oh the uieu
broke down last evening and told the story OF tne
murder Which OF the two is not known, but IL -
said TO be Taylor. From The confession IL appears
that Chamberlain lived in New Haven and wA
well acquainted with Mrs. Ernst, and the rumot
that she had 700 locked IN her rooms, as sns
was afraid 10 put 1t into bank. lie came mere anu
told of the chance TO make Pood hsai; nac
Taylor was willing and tine two men took the y; AZ
.rain Monday night for New,hawen w nsS oIan sov was
talking with her In her little pasemeut ssoioSs
When this woman had gone Mrs. Ernst ias.easa a,s
u
thieves walked down the stairs and raped. no
door was opened and the two mon entered. lney
rated with chIorOform over her month. Then they
searched the house. they got $40 TO- Mrs Ernst
awoke aud Chamberlain beat her head agailss , ,ne
sofa More chlorotorm was gwen her Inc hidden
horde was sought but could not be discovered
Taylor found the woman was dead The thieves
for a drink on the way TO the station, divided the
money on the train and got off at Harlem at 2:lo
a, M They rode down TO F0urteenth-st. and Ihird.
ave. and went to Ryan & Coopers liqnor store AZ
Hudson and Twelfth sts., where they remained
some time making up evidence III case II was heces'
sary to prove an allbi. e,.,a u
she knew 20 Inspector Byrnes. saying that Gnaia-